CAMELOT FANTASIES

Quote from: thetruth on April 08, 2015, 06:52:25 am

Quote from: masterclass on April 08, 2015, 03:58:17 am

Good day everyone!

Given that these top players all have a lot of ability, FITNESS these days, especially on the slower courts  from AO Open to Roland Garros, appears to be the major differentiator when both players are in good form and the ability is relatively equal.  Right now, Djokovic is above the rest in my opinion.

Here is how I rank the top 10 players fitness based on their most recent play that I've seen.  The little v means I think there is a level of difference between that player and the next.

1. Djokovic [1] (He has taken fitness and flexibility to a new level.  I don't know what he's doing, but it's working. Ability wise, I place him below Federer and Nadal, and maybe even Murray, but his fitness and flexibility translating into superb movement, stamina, and ability to recover quickly in matches and between matches takes him above that group)
v

2.  Ferrer [7] (he is at a lower ability level than most of the top 10, but in his 33rd year, his superb fitness and spirit still puts him right behind the top guys)

3.  Federer [2] (Well into his 34th year, he is still physically prepared to outlast everyone except for Djokovic. Right now he is training on clay with young Dominic Thiem and others in the build up to Monte Carlo and the clay season. He has targeted training where he works on something and doesn't let up until he thinks he is just about perfect and has hit his target. Kyrgios said that about Federer when he trained with him last year prior to RG and Wimbledon).
v

4. Nishikori [4] (Under his coach Chang, his fitness has improved probably 3 fold. He is not getting as many injuries, and he has one of the best, it not the best deciding set records in the last two years)
v

5. Murray [3] (his level of fitness and play definitely declined after Wimbledon 2013, mostly due to his back, and then the recovery. His level of play this year finally seems to have mostly recovered, but he is still coming up short against the fittest players)

6. Wawrinka [9] (he fluctuates in fitness, varying from pretty fit (Nishikori level) to looking like he had too many hamburgers, so I put him here)
v

7. Nadal [5] (he might be above Raonic, Berdych, and Cilic, but their games are so different they doesn't need quite the same fitness, for Nadal it is essential).  It's a bit sad that I place him here, because I always considered Rafa #1 in fitness for years, probably peaking in 2008, but in 2009 injuries took some toll, and then definitely after his 2010 3 slam year I think he relaxed, and then after his excellent 2013, even more so, to the point where I was almost shocked at his fitness. He had a relatively poor clay season by his standards in 2014, but still managed to win Roland Garros, but that was it, and in 2015, has dropped even further in fitness and match playing levels after mishaps in the latter portion of 2014. I think he needs to get up to at least Nishikori level of fitness and preferably higher to stop these losses to players to whom he should not be losing.  He is in danger of dropping from top 10 if there is no improvement in the clay season.  I think and hope there will be, but we will see)

8. Raonic [6] (his fitness has improved, but it is not at the same level of the rest, but then is game is much different and he doesn't rely on it as much. Still, I think it wouldn't hurt him to drop a few more.
v

9. Berdych [8] (see Raonic and game style, not really as much improvement fitness wise though, he's a big guy and wouldn't hurt him to be quicker around the court)
v

10. Cilic [10] (like Raonic as well in game style, but still getting hurt a lot, probably needs to try and work on flexibility and some targeted training for problem areas of his body)


That's how I see it.  Please feel free to agree or disagree and come up with your own list and opinions.

Respectfully,
masterclass

I guess Ferrer is "fitter" than Roger, but it's hard to know since Roger's a much better match player than Ferrer. Sometimes Ferrer goes away in tough matches, is it fitness or lack of confidence.

Nishikori? Somethings just not right with him for me. Sophomore slump possibly, but he isn't looking that sharp or hungry to me. He's fit, but towards the end of the tournament he seems to be slower to the ball and not as much power on his shots. Maybe he'll rebound this year, but since the loss at the USO he's seemed stagnant to me.

Murray is a head scratcher for me right now. He may still be learning to trust his body, but his passion doesn't seem to quite be there. He seems confused about what he wants to do. In his right mind, he should have won that first from Novak, he broke him three times and got broken back. Confused, and then a bagel in the third. Somethings off in his head, to me, I don't think it's about fitness though.

Wawrinka is another question mark. Since his big win he hasn't been very dependable. He fluctuates too wildly and you can't depend on him from one tournament to the next. I don't know if it's fitness or something going on in his head, because he seems to be thinking too much. Thoughts like he should win a match over a lower ranked player, and losing focus in the middle of a match.

Nadal, it's hard to say whether it's fitness or rustiness at this point. I know that fitness gives you  confidence, but coming back from injury also gives you doubts. So, I don't know where Rafa is, we'll see as the season wears on

I would switch Berdych and Raonic because Berdych gets to more balls, but Raonic comes forward more, but is easier to get out of position.

Weird with Cilic, I don't remember him being so hurt in the past, maybe he was and I just didn't notice it, but maybe it has to do with height, similar to del Potro. Both of them shot up like comets, but also came back to earth with a thud.

Or, I can probably just go along with your whole post, because you know tennis better than me, LOL.

Not at all Lady TT, I enjoy hearing all points of view, even if I may not agree, as long as they seem fairly sensible.  

Re Andy: Maybe you did not hear that a little after the second set,  Murray shouted toward the trainer in his box,  "I'm done! Nice job!" Then in the post match interview he said that his legs were hurting/exhausted in the 3rd and he just couldn't do it.  So.... I don't know what to say.  Murray tired after 2 sets in his home away from home (where he trains)?  Maybe he is not pacing himself well during the match. He was guns blazing in the first set, put out a lot of energy, but unfortunately for him, lost the tiebreaker.  He then had to put a lot of energy to win the second as well.  The way he played it, he needed to get it done in two, and basically he said he didn't have it for the third.

But you have some points about the others.  Wawrinka may be satiated at this point.  He won a major, and he won the Davis Cup with Federer.  I think he has accomplished all he dreamed of doing.  So it may be lack of motivation for him, I think in some ways similar to Murray after winning Wimbledon in 2013, which he said was a lifetime dream come true.  I think it is no surprise really.

Respectfully,
masterclass

I saw an article earlier and Murray was saying that he couldn't explain why he didn't have any more gas in his legs, and I meant to read it, but didn't right away and now I can't find it. But, I forgot that he was getting married in a few weeks, so that may also be a factor.

That was quite a year for Stan, so it's understandable if he's lacking in energy and focus. We have to remember that they're human and tennis can't be everything without sacrificing other important aspects of your life. I don't know how they do it anyway, but if I'm not feeling it, no risk or reward is too great for me. I simply won't do it, whatever it is.